John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 5:16

"but Jehovah of hosts is exalted in justice, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness." — Isaiah 5:16 (ASV)

But Jehovah of hosts shall be exalted in judgment. He expresses the manner, or, what is commonly called, the formal cause, of the excellence about which he has spoken; as if he were saying, “The God of hosts, whom ungodly people insolently trample underfoot, will be raised on high when He shows Himself to be the judge of the world.”

In this way, he ridicules the foolish confidence with which the ungodly boasted. For if judgment and righteousness must eventually be revealed, it follows that they will be cast down, since the only way these people rise is by overturning the order of nature.

And it should be carefully observed that wicked people cannot continue in prosperity any more than God can permit His glory to be set aside. Though judgment is not at all different from righteousness, still the repetition is not superfluous.

And God, who is holy, shall be sanctified in righteousness. The language becomes more forceful, so that wicked people may not, by a false notion, assure themselves of uninterrupted happiness, which they cannot have unless by setting aside the holiness of God. But since God is holy by nature, He must be sanctified. Therefore, it follows that destruction hangs over the wicked, so that their obstinacy and rebellion may be subdued, for God cannot deny Himself.